Halifax Town Clerk Barbara Gaynor has been getting the town ready for the first election in the past hundred years to be held during a global pandemic.But she’s up to the challenge.

The election is Saturday, June 20, and the last day to register to vote is June 10.“I will encourage online voter registration,” Gaynor said.The link to register to vote is on the town’s website – Halifax-ma.org /Town Clerk.

The polls will be open the regular hours, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and as of now, “we are still planning on the polling place being the gym at Halifax Elementary School.” She encourages early voting/absentee voting for this election.

Selectmen are meeting virtually this morning, Friday, May 8, at 9 a.m. to discuss the warrant for the annual town meeting scheduled to be held Monday, June 15.“Town meeting … is still a work in progress.There are bills before the Senate and House dealing with town meetings so I think that is part of the town delay. I take direction from the Board of Selectmen as to the when and how,” Gaynor said.

The ballot is finalized and shows only two contests, Michael J. Schlieff is opposing incumbent R. Steven Hayward for Highway Surveyor, and Alan J Dias and Ashley DiSesa are both seeking the single five-year term on the Planning Board.

“Shall the town vote to accept the provisions of section thirteen of chapter two hundred and fifty-eight of the General Laws which provides that the town shall indemnify and save harmless municipal officers, elected or appointed, from personal financial loss and expense including reasonable legal fees and costs, if any in an amount not to exceed one million dollars, arising out of any claim, demand, suit or judgement by reason of any act or omission except an intentional violation of civil rights of any person under any law, if the official at the time of such act or omission was acting with the scope of this official’s duties and employment?”

Plympton resident Scott Materna, who works as the Facilities Manager for the Town of Halifax, put his skills to good use recently as he disinfected the new police station in a mutual aid endeavor.The disinfecting was not due to any specific risk, just something that needs to be done from time to time, according to Plympton Police Sgt. Stephen Teri.

During the Halifax Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday, April 28 town administrator Charlie Seelig said that as of right now, the town is operating under the assumption that there will be a town meeting on June 15. He noted, however, it is all subject to change due to COVID-19 restrictions. Based on that assumption, the town is required to get the warrant out to residents. Selectman Gordon Andrews asked if the town was bound by legislation to hold town meeting in June. Seelig said that they would need to do so as a starting point even if in June it is decided that it will need to be postponed another 30 days.

Seelig also questioned the need to spend several thousand dollars printing and distributing warrants to every household in Halifax. He suggested, instead, printing less copies and making them available at a few public locations throughout town in addition to posting it online. The bylaws regarding the requirements for the distribution of the warrant would need to be changed first.

Seelig pointed out that they are printing approximately 3,500 copies of the warrant yet only 100 or so households are usually represented at town meeting. He did, however, say that he was in no way trying to discourage participation.

Andrews suggested the possibility of sending a postcard to each household in town letting them know where they could pick up a copy of the warrant. Both Selectmen Chair Troy Garron and Selectman Tom Millias were on board with the idea.

Planning Board member Amy Troup was in attendance and made it known that she was adamantly opposed to the idea of not sending warrants to all individual households.

As of now, the town election is still scheduled for late June. Seelig said that they are currently reviewing the final proof of the election ballot.

Seelig said he would encourage as many people as possible to take advantage of early voting and mail-in voting.

Seelig relayed that town clerk Barbara Gaynor proposed reducing the number of hours that the polls are open from 10 am to 6 pm to 12 pm to 4 pm. Millias said, “I’m not sure I’m comfortable shortening the hours.”

He continued, “I want to be sure everyone gets their chance.”

Seelig and the selectmen were unsure whether shortening the hours would reduce or increase exposure for residents and poll workers. Shorter hours would mean less time being in contact with others, but it could also result in greater crowd size. Garron said, “I’m not sure. six of one, half a dozen of the other.” Seelig said he would speak to Gaynor about the Board’s concerns.

COVID Leave Policy Re-examined

Seelig said that back in March, the town had decided to continue paying those who weren’t allowed back in their places of work but were unable to work from home. A few of those employees have been temporarily transferred to a department that could utilize them. For others that are available to work but unable to be transferred or work from home, Seelig said they would have to either take a leave option or be furloughed until they can be put back to work. Millias said, “This whole thing has opened up a lot of inequities… I would like to give this a little more thought, myself.” Seelig said the Board could delay making a decision until their May 12 meeting.

Budget Discussion

Seelig said that himself and town accountant Sandra Nolan met with the Finance Committee on Monday, April 27 and made some progress regarding decisions about line items in the budget. Seelig also said that he was waiting to hear back from the schools regarding their budgets. He acknowledged that everyone was waiting to hear about changes to Chapter 70 funding and unrestricted local aid from the state. Andrews pointed out that were the state to change their numbers, it could potentially have a negative impact on Halifax’s assessment for Silver Lake.

Seelig said that there would be a possibility that they would have to do a 1/12 budget. Seelig also said that while there wasn’t money for general wage increases across the board, there would most likely be step increases for union/non-union and school and non-school employees. Troup, again, took issue with Seelig and the Board’s proposal saying, “Raises for people should not even be considered right now… taxpayers are losing their jobs…we need to unite and come together as a team like we used to.”

After what was, at times, a heated debate between some of the selectmen and Troup, Garron replied, “We do the best we can with what we have to work with.”

CARES Act Distribution

On March 27, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, was signed into law, establishing a federal fund of $150 billion to help cities and towns cover costs related to the coronavirus pandemic. Plymouth County received $90 million from that fund which the Plymouth County Board of Commissioners elected to distribute to towns and cities within their jurisdiction themselves rather than having the state administer the money. Aside from the city of Boston, all other local governments opted to have the funds funneled through the commonwealth.

Seelig said that the three Halifax agencies that are in greatest need of the funds, including the Board of Health, have yet to receive any word from the County. Seelig also said that on April 30 a Plymouth County Commissioner’s meeting will be held via Zoom with one participant allowed per city and town. Garron volunteered to sit on the call saying, “I’m not too pleased about it that they didn’t notify anybody about this, especially the advisory board.” Andrews and Millias were also displeased with the County’s decision. The Selectmen voted to have Seelig draft a letter stating their preference that the state handle the allocation of the funds.

Suggestion to Honor Graduating Seniors

Seelig told the selectmen that a suggestion was sent to him to hang congratulations signs on the town utility poles for the individual graduating seniors from Halifax. Seelig said that doing so could be difficult as there are only 10 or 12 poles with the necessary clips. The Highway Department would have to be involved as well. Seelig proposed a logistically simpler idea of placing signs along the roadway, potentially on Plymouth St., to represent each of the roughly 90 students. The selectmen agreed that they would like to figure out some way of honoring those students. “I think if we could do something it would be a really nice gesture,” Millias said.

Official Declaration Made

Seelig also asked the selectmen for their opinion on declaring May 1 to May 7 Children’s Mental Health Week in Halifax per a request that had been received. Regarding making such declarations Andrews commented, “We don’t do this a lot.” Millias said, “It is a little odd, but I don’t see any harm to it.” The selectmen voted to approve the request.

Odds and Ends

A Planning Board hearing is scheduled for May 7 at 7:15 pm.

The three items on the agenda include updating the zoning bylaws regarding floodplains, allowing marijuana establishments in the commercial district, and potentially updating the multifamily bylaw.

The Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a remand on May 4, 2020 at 7:30 pm for Amanda’s Estates. The Zoning Board of Appeals will also hold a public hearing on Country Club Estates on May 6 at 7 pm.

Mosquito control

Seelig said that while it is too early to begin other mosquito control measures, the town has administered larvicide to swamplands, etc.

Memorial Day Parade

Assistant Veterans Agent for Halifax, Steven Littlefield, told Seelig that he couldn’t see how the Memorial Day Parade could be held given Governor Baker extending the stay-at-home order through May 18.The Board agreed to hold off on making a definitive decision regarding the parade though Andrews said, “I think, personally, we are going to have to cancel it.” The Selectmen had previously voted to allow flags to be placed on the town green several weeks in advance of Memorial Day.

Condolences to

Halifax Nova Scotia

The Selectmen voted to send a letter of condolences to Halifax, Nova Scotia following the mass shooting that took place near there on April 19. It was the worst in Canada’s history.

The Plympton Board of Selectmen continued with their virtual weekly meetings on Thursday, April 23 to cover any COVID-19 related updates as well as some regular town business.

Chairman of the Board of Health Arthur Morin reported to Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy that all COVID-19 cases in Plympton were reported to be recovered resulting in no active cases they were aware of as of April 23. Selectmen Chair Christine Joy exclaimed, “Hallelujah, that is great news.” Selectmen Mark Russo and John Traynor agreed. Morin said, “I was tickled yesterday when I got the news that they are out of quarantine and everything is good.” Since the meeting, however, the town’s website has been updated to report one active case in town.

Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy told the Board that they had to decide whether to conduct an appraisal of the property at 61 Upland Road. There is currently a notice of intent to convert under Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 61A. The Board decided they would take a vote at a later meeting as they felt that they needed more time and more discussion to make the correct decision.

Dennehy provided an update on the town’s measures to combat the Coronavirus pandemic locally. Weekly calls with townhouse employees, the library, and the Council on Aging are continuing. Additionally, an Emergency Management meeting was held this week to discuss what it will look like when the town reopens as well as best approaches for reopening. Dennehy said that the town will need to be in compliance with both the state and federal government’s guidance. Extenuating circumstances will also have to be taken into consideration including, but not limited to, childcare issues or caretaking for ill family members. “Everything seems to be running smoothly,” Dennehy said.

Dennehy also said that Meals on Wheels has been moved out of the Fire Department and is now being operated out of the Halifax Council on Aging. Dennehy said that Council on Aging Director Joy Marble gave her an update on the Brown Bag program that delivers a bag of essential groceries to residents who qualify. Those wishing to inquire about eligibility for either Meals on Wheels or the Brown Bag program should reach out to Marble (contact information can be found on the town website).

Dennehy said that if people need to visit the Townhouse they must check in with either herself or the Chair of the Plympton Board of Health Arthur Morin. “We seem to have a pretty good schedule going right now,” Dennehy said.

Regarding the town budget, Dennehy said that despite being under certain time constraints, it would be premature to make any decisions currently about what will or will not be happening.

Chair of the Plympton School Committee Jon Wilhelmsen was also in attendance to provide an update on the schools. Wilhelmsen said it was a challenge to keep everything equal. He added, “We’ll do things as we always do in Plympton which is collaboratively.”

There was a virtual, joint meeting between Silver Lake Regional School Committee and Union 31 on Thursday, April 23 to discuss the remote learning program that has been instituted district-wide in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic. Representatives were there from each of the three towns’ school committees.

Superintendent Jill Proulx led the presentation on remote learning. A survey was sent out to secondary students (grades 7-12), staff, and parents to gather information on the first few weeks of remote learning. Proulx said that herself and Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch were looking for trends in the data from the survey. Seventy-five percent of the staff completed the survey with 826 responses received overall.

Proulx said that overall the staff feels supported but face challenges such as monitoring the progress of their students in addition to simply missing their students. The range of responses were also varied with some parents and students eager for new material while others felt otherwise. Lynch said that when asked if they would be able to move forward independently if their teacher were to introduce new content, 47 percent of students responded yes. About one-third of those surveyed said they would not be able to do so without additional support. Lynch pointed out that students surveyed reported the workloads to be heavier than their parents who were also surveyed. Students surveyed said that the work veered toward the too much side of things. Most parents were clustered somewhere in the middle between too much and too little. Many parents also expressed frustration with working from home while also supporting their child regardless of their age. Additionally, many older students are now working more hours, largely in grocery stores, and are feeling overwhelmed trying to maintain both a job and their schoolwork. Proulx noted that the students who responded did so appropriately and thoughtfully.

According to Proulx and Lynch, the qualitative data from the survey showed that there should be a focus placed on consistency in both communication and expectations. Proulx and Lynch also met virtually with all building principals to get a sense of what’s working in order to expand upon it and make it consistent for all schools in the district.

The Silver Lake leadership is also working on answering frequently asked questions and distributing sample schedules. All groups surveyed will be surveyed once again in about three weeks. Proulx said their biggest concern is trying to meet the needs of all the children.

Proulx also said that the Department of Education would likely be providing additional recommendations about remote learning by early next week that could include some summer school guidance. According to Proulx, Silver Lake will be waiting for further guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) before making any big changes to their distance learning program.

Some Committee members asked questions of Proulx including how the district is addressing students who are either not participating or participating at lower levels. Proulx said that first steps include the teacher reaching out and if that fails, a counselor or principal attempts to make contact. As a last resort, the school resource officer is sent out to do a wellness check. Committee members also wanted to know if the goal of remote education was to prevent regression or to continue to educate. Proulx said that a major focus was preventing regression adding, “I think one of the things we continue to struggle with is to what extent new material should be introduced and how to introduce new material.”

Another question was in regard to how teachers were expected to be educating. Proulx said that teachers should explain things verbally and visually to whatever extent they can in the given environment rather than just posting a list of assignments. “In some respects, it is like we are all first-year teachers again, but good teaching remains good teaching,” Proulx explained. Proulx also emphasized that if something is not working for a parent or student, that issue is best communicated directly to the teacher as they are best equipped to make a quick adjustment.

Following Proulx’s presentation the Committee members engaged in some debate about the level of structure that needs to be applied to the remote learning program. Some on the Committee felt that the expectations for the students should be elevated with students being “in class” online at regular times, particularly for those in grades 7-12.

Silver Lake Regional High School Principal Michaela Gill said that as an educator and mother to three young children she sympathizes with the difficulties such a strict schedule would impose on teachers and other working parents. Gill emphasized the importance of both flexibility and mental health.

Committee member Gordon Andrews, who said his wife works at a private school, said that he would also like to see some more structure in the form of a daily plan for all students but said that he understood Gill’s take. Kingston School Committee member Jeanne Coleman said flexibility is key and stressed the importance of keeping the parents’ and students’ mental health in mind. Coleman said that she allows her ten-year-old to sleep in so that she can finish her younger children’s schoolwork earlier. Proulx said, “I would just comment that we do have different needs across the district; as you can see, we do need to be flexible.”

Silver Lake Regional Committee Chair Jason Fraser said that the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) has started compiling things that are working for various school districts and sharing them. Fraser, who is on the Board of Directors for MASC, said that while on a call with many other school committees, none were claiming to have this all figured out yet. A motion was made and voted through to support Fraser in his bid to become secretary of the MASC.

Committee member Jon Wilhelmsen asked Proulx what would happen if the pandemic continued into the Fall. Proulx acknowledged the possibility of a second wave of the virus and the need for social distancing and said that she feels that the things transpiring now would better prepare the district to handle remote learning, etc. should it come to that again.

Proulx was also asked if parents or students would be able to pick up personal items from the buildings. Proulx said that doing so now would not be safe as any additional people in the building increases both contact and potential exposure. If an essential item has been left behind, Proulx recommended contacting the building principal.

Fraser touched on the budget toward the end of the meeting acknowledging that everything is up in the air at this juncture. “Things need to happen, but we need to move with information not conjecture,” Fraser explained. Fraser acknowledged that staffing cuts would likely have to be made and Regional Committee Vice Chair Eric Crone agreed saying that many districts have already had to make cuts and furloughs. “There’s a pretty significant chance that we are going to have to cut deep,” Fraser said.

In the only non COVID-19 related business of the night, Director of Business Services Christine Healy gave an update on the new bus contract. The current bus contract is set to end on June 30, 2020. Healy said that atop the priority list for the new contract were newer buses, additional cameras, updated safety equipment, and an enhanced radio system and routing software. Healy said that she had 8 inquiries to her bid with one response back. The new contract would be a five-year contract with two one-year extensions. There would be a four percent increase year one, a two and a half percent increase years two through five, and a four and a half percent increase after that. There will be 33 buses with five 2019 buses and 28 2016 buses. All buses will be equipped with at least two cameras.

State Representative Kathy LaNatra (D-Kingston) announces that the House of Representatives recently passed legislation to set a moratorium on most residential and commercial evictions and residential foreclosures during the COVID-19 State of Emergency, and for 30 days after it ends.

The legislation includes the following provisions.

• It establishes a moratorium on most residential and commercial evictions within the Commonwealth for the duration of the State of Emergency and 30 days after the State of Emergency ends.

• Landlords may not charge late fees or send reports to credit rating agencies if a tenant notifies the landlord within 30 days of a late payment that the non-payment of rent is due to a financial impact related to the COVID-19 emergency.

• Prohibits landlords from sending “notice to quit” letters for the duration of the State of Emergency and 30 days after the State of Emergency is terminated.

• Establishes a moratorium on foreclosure actions for the duration of the State of Emergency and 30 days after the State of Emergency ends.

• Allows for video conferencing during the State of Emergency for reverse mortgage loans. Current mandates require in-person consultations for these loans.

• Emergency evictions may proceed during the moratorium for actions that involve allegations of criminal activity or substantial lease violations that may detrimental to public health or public safety.

Representative LaNatra said, “This is important protection for both residents and businesses because it provides some protection during this crisis. These are difficult times for us all and we are working to enact legislation that protects our citizens and help us all through these challenging circumstances.”

The bill now goes to the Senate.

Representative LaNatra’s district includes all residents of Halifax, Kingston and Plympton, as well as residents of Precincts 1, 11 and 13 in Plymouth; Precinct 1 in Middleboro; and Precinct 1 in Duxbury. To reach her, email Kathleen.LaNatra@mahouse.gov or her legislative aide, Chris Jean, Christopher.Jean@MAhouse.gov. The phone number for the office is 617-722-2430. For updates and announcements, please visit Representative LaNatra’s Facebook page, https://bit.ly/2Ura8VR or her website, https://www.kathylanatra.com.

The National Guard arrived on Sunday with much needed protection gear for Plympton first responders including N-95 masks and other protective equipment.Since the arrival of COVID-19, protective gear has been in the news because it is so difficult to get.Fire Chief Stephen Silva said that the supplies have loosened up and now his department is in good shape.

The chief made the news this week with his war against the giant online retailer Amazon.Plympton Fire Department has been a municipal customer of Amazon for years, and has enjoyed a good business relationship with them. Once the COVID-19 virus pandemic hit, Amazon restricted the purchase of many protective equipment items so they would be available to hospitals and emergency responders, and not hoarded by resellers.

All Plympton had to do is fill out a form.And another form. And fill it out again. Weeks went by, Silva said, and no product orders came through.Other fire departments recommended to Amazon by Silva were getting their orders, but Plympton was not. Silva finally enlisted the aid of Channel 25 News to put their media might behind it, and Amazon did call them back, assuring them that Plympton would be taken care of.Problem solved!

First responders from throughout the area came together at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Plymouth, last Thursday afternoon to form a parade around the building, showing their support and thanks to the healthcare workers who put their lives on the line every day they come to work.

Plympton’s Fire Chief Stephen Silva’s daughter is an ER nurse there and tells her dad of the difficult situations they face.Many who could come outside applauded the parade – and first responders could see the gratitude on their faces.

The Plympton Board of Selectmen met virtually on Thursday, April 16 to discuss ongoing developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the weekly selectmen meetings, Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy has also been having weekly conference calls with the townhouse staff.

Dennehy told the selectmen that the most recent guidelines from Governor Baker’s office have granted municipalities the ability to postpone tax payments and waive interests on late payments through June 29. Dennehy said that Plympton Collector Colleen Morin has recommended keeping the May 1 due date but asked that the Selectmen take a vote to waive any interest through June 29 on late payments for tax bills due May 1. The Selectmen unanimously voted to pass this motion.

Governor Baker’s office has also moved the 2019 state individual income tax filing and payment deadline from April 15 to July 15.

On April 16, the Plympton Fire and Police Departments participated in a drive-by parade at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth to show appreciation to all the healthcare and essential workers there. Many local public safety organizations were also part of the parade. “That was a nice event that made people happy and spread some joy,” Dennehy said.

According to Dennehy, after some bumps in the road, the transfer station is now operating smoothly. “Now we’re in a spot where the employees have adequate personal protective equipment, they’re following all of the social distancing protocols, and they’re doing a wonderful job keeping the facility open. I think that everyone feels more confident now that they are being properly protected as well,” Dennehy said.

The town of Hanson loaned Plympton an electronic message board that has been used to reflect the new hours of the transfer station. Selectman John Traynor, who said he had been to the transfer station that day said, “I would like to reinforce that as well… very well done.”

Dennehy told the selectmen that there were initially some logistical issues distributing brown bag meals to the Woodlands. Council on Aging Director Joy Marble has found a way to streamline the process, however, while keeping everyone safe.

New measures include placing tape on the floor to ensure workers and patrons stay six feet apart. “Joy deserves to be commended on that; she’s put an enormous amount of time into getting these meals out to people,” Dennehy shared.

Plympton was called upon to see if they could also deliver meals to facilities in Carver and Marshfield. “Right now we’re kind of working on that. We don’t want to overextend ourselves and take on more than what we can reasonably handle but we are trying to be helpful to other communities,” Dennehy said. She also said that Jim Mustacaros, who handles transportation for the Council on Aging, had delivered meals to the facility in Marshfield. “Trying to be mindful of our own resources and of Joy and Jim’s time and also the Fire Chief’s time…we want to be sure that Plympton seniors and Plympton residents are being served first with the limited resources that we have,” Dennehy continued.

The Plympton police and fire departments have also been continuing with their disinfecting protocols. Scott Materna, the Director of Building Maintenance for Halifax, has been periodically disinfecting both buildings and has also loaned equipment to the fire department that enables them to fog the ambulance used for COVID-19 related runs.

Inspections and permits continue

Dennehy said that she had received several questions from the public regarding protocols for inspections and permitting. Plympton has been following the same protocols as most of the state, allowing outside inspections and inside ones for new construction only. Chair of the Board of Health Art Morin said that exceptions are being made for emergencies.

Selectman Mark Russo expressed concern for those residents who find themselves mid-project asking, “If this is going to drag on, is there no way of finding a way to keep the permitting process moving so people aren’t stuck in the mud for month after month?”

Morin agreed saying “We have to adapt and come up with different and creative ideas.” Morin went on to specify that he meant this in regard to individuals and realtors as well as the town.

Russo also said, “When all of this settles down, I think we should look at a way for online permitting options… to offer more options to our residents for doing some of these transactions.”

Morin also told the Board that Plympton has brought on Kevin Forgue as the health agent. Forgue, who is a registered engineer, is also the health agent in Carver. Morin said, “We are fortunate to have Kevin on board now.” Morin also said that Halifax health agent Cathy Drinan had stepped in during the interim on several occasions.

Schools report on distance learning

Plympton School Committee Chair Jon Wilhelmsen provided an update on the status of the schools following the second full week of distance learning. Administrators sent a survey to parents, staff, and secondary students in order to receive feedback. Wilhelmsen said that the greatest obstacle thus far has been the wide spectrum of needs throughout the district. Wilhelmsen said that despite hundreds of chromebooks being loaned out, there are still some students who are unable to access technology for one reason or another. According to Wilhelmsen there are students on either end of the spectrum ranging from those struggling with remote assignments to those wishing for more work. “The whole public-school system is setup to provide equal access to all students and you cannot provide equal access in this environment,” Wilhelmsen explained. He also said that Superintendent Jill Proulx deserves a lot of credit for the efforts made thus far.

“This likely is going to continue for this school year and we’ve had a number of conversations with the administration that we need to prepare for the fall,” Wilhelmsen said. Governor Baker officially canceled school for the remainder of the year in the Commonwealth on Tuesday, April 21.

“We need to think forward and I would encourage all of us to think of creative options to keep things moving,” Wilhelmsen continued. Board of Selectmen Chair Christine Joy agreed saying, “We need to learn to do things differently and be more efficient.”

The Halifax Board of Selectmen met via Zoom on Tuesday, April 14. Town Administrator Charlie Seelig told the Board that he would like them to revisit the Halifax COVID leave that had been established for town employees following the Governor’s statewide stay-at-home advisory.

He said that it would be necessary to differentiate between time off due to vacation or sick leave (unrelated to COVID) from leaves of absence related to the pandemic. Seelig said that in the weeks since the order, the town has been able to establish the ability for most town employees to work from home. He said there are still a select few who cannot work from home but no longer have a job site. Seelig said he would work with departments to try to find remedies for those situations, including possibly finding other town work for those employees to do from home. The Board plans to review further at their April 28 meeting.

Seelig also addressed the need for certain town employees to be granted carry over for vacation hours.

He said that the police and fire departments have not seen an influx in calls related to COVID-19 and therefore it wouldn’t be necessary to grant the carry over across the board. Seelig said, however, that both he and the town health agent Cathy Drinan would like the ability to carry over vacation time for use at a later time as they are having to work more hours as a result of COVID-19.

The Board approved the request with Chair Troy Garron saying it would be best to take such requests on a case-by- case basis.

Joseph Peck attended the meeting remotely to fulfil an appointment with the Board to discuss the issuance of a post permit for earth removal done a few years back by his father, John Peck. The Board and Seelig had a copy of a report from an engineer that included comments and recommendations for how to move forward before issuing the permit. Seelig asked Peck what his intentions were with the remaining earth mounds. Peck said, “I have no intentions with it. They’re just piles of dirt right now… it is certainly not leaving the property which I guess is the main concern.” Selectman Gordon Andrews said that he felt that a topographical plan should be submitted per the recommendation of the engineer.

Selectman Tom Millias agreed saying that in a perfect world he would like to see the recommendations carried out as well.

Peck told the Board that his father was quite ill and would be unable to attend a court date should there be one. He requested that the Board allow him to pay for the permit and waive the other recommendations stating that he would rather see money go to the town right now for the permit than to a land surveyor.

He also stressed his continued cooperation in the future in abiding by all town bylaws. Referring to Peck’s father’s health and the overall situation Garron said, “My feeling right now is that we set out to make sure everyone follows the rules and the bylaws and the situation has changed radically.

The Board agreed to move forward allowing Peck to simply pay for the post permit with the caveat that if there were to be any future violations, the town would need to take further legal action.

The Board also met virtually with Robert Bergstrom to discuss the upcoming Mudfest. Bergstrom said that just under 1,000 people attended the event last year and said that he was coming before the Board with the understanding that the event could only move forward if the Governor lifted his ban on gatherings before the June 21 date of the event. The Board voted to approve the event contingent on a review of the Governor’s restrictions prior to the event date.

Seelig gave a quick update on the town budget saying that the Finance Committee plans to meet next week. He said they will review guidance from town accountant Sandy Nolan as well as a framework provided by himself.

Seelig also said that the Halifax town meeting is still scheduled for June 15 and the town elections are still scheduled for June 20. Seelig said that he hopes that the state government will give consideration to a mail-in vote as it gets closer to June.

Two articles in the proposed warrant for town meeting will be submitted to the Planning Board for their public hearing on May 7. Those include one related to floodplain mapping as well as an article allowing recreational marijuana in the commercial district with a special permit. The Selectmen also voted to submit a new draft of the proposed multifamily zoning bylaw to the Planning Board for the May 7 hearing.

In other news, the May 8 Ragnar Road Race scheduled to use Halifax Elementary School as one of it’s stops has been cancelled.

Seelig also said that the Board had received a request to proclaim May 3 through May 9 as Children’s Mental Health Week.

Both Garron and Seelig pointed out that the Board has never participated in making such proclamations. The Board requested that Seelig gather more information on the organization making the request before they make their decision likely at the next meeting.

The Board voted to approve a generic contract requested by Highway Surveyor Steve Hayward in the amount of $28,500.

The money would be spent surveying the conditions of the town’s roads and estimating the cost of improvements. Seelig also asked the Board to approve a $5,000 grant from the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards for the town to use toward COVID-19 related costs.

Seelig told the Board that the pandemic has given the town more of a reason to try handling more business electronically moving forward. Seelig said that they may want to consider articles at town meeting to appropriate money to have new systems put in place.

Garron, who referred to himself as “old school” said, “I like hard copies.”

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